Getting Home Is Getting Harder

Today United Airlines announced they were reducing domestic flight capacity by 17 to 18 percent in 2009. For me - that means small, cramped planes with less seats and higher prices.

I know the airlines are hurting right now, but I’m not sure if these practices will help “improv[e] our customer experience and reliability,” as Chief Operating Officer John Tague said in a statement. American Airlines flies at reduced capacity between Chicago and Omaha with planes having a 2/1 or 3/2 seat configuration. Anytime I’ve flown that route on United it’s been 3/3, although off-peak schedules show they run a 2/2 configuration as well.

I hate small planes, can’t stand them. They are crowded, cramped, the aisle is tiny and you can never fit your carry-on luggage in the overhead bins, meaning you have to valet check it. I also believe the flight attendants hate them as well, as they are always crabbier on those flights than the larger planes.

At what point is it less of a hassle to just drive home? I know it will take A LOT since I am not a fan of long car rides and gas prices are absolutely ridiculous right now.